[ EDITORIAL ]

Silver Springs: Dual-Role Future for Park

Published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 9:47 p.m.

Ever since plans for turning Silver Springs into a state park began to crystallize, a variety of visions have emerged as to what the new version of an old landmark should be.

Some have called for the revised Silver Springs — 95 miles north of Lakeland, just east of Ocala in Marion County — it to be a purely natural park with limited human access.

Others have suggested it be an economic-development "project," complete with restaurants, a hotel and retail outlets.

For its part, the owner, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, initially laid out a plan that appeared that the springs would be just another state park.

Most of those engaged in the discussion, however, envisioned something in the middle — an environmental restoration undertaking that also can serve as an economic stimulus, maybe even the catalyst to turn the community into an ecotourism mecca of sorts. After all, Silver Springs is not just another spring, it is the world's most famous freshwater spring, with a rich-and-colorful history.

So it was encouraging to hear the DEP's Lewis Scruggs at a community forum held May 11 on the status of the Silver Springs park project talk about the agency's vision of the park as an ecotourism destination. Scruggs, assistant bureau chief for the Environmental Department's Office of Park Planning, said while the new park will highlight the springs' cultural and historic past, it will also be part of something bigger, something many believe can transform the community.

NATURE PLUS ECONOMY

Having the department on board to restore Silver Springs to its former glory, both as a natural treasure and an economic one as well, is critical to achieving the bigger picture of parking a renaissance of the springs, and its impact on Ocala and Marion County.

Marion County Commissioner Stan McClain, who has been the county's point man in negotiations with the department, said over time he has seen state park officials "expand their vision" of what Silver Springs can mean to a community — surrounded by a 500,000 acres of national forest, 50,000 acres of greenway, 11,000 acres of state forest and hundreds of miles of trails running through each.

Restoration of the springs itself must remain priority No. 1. But if that is successful, the bigger goal of making Silver Springs and its surrounding natural assets an ecotourism destination can happen as well, because who wouldn't want to swim in the cool, clear waters of the world's most spectacular freshwater spring — just for starters.

<p>Ever since plans for turning Silver Springs into a state park began to crystallize, a variety of visions have emerged as to what the new version of an old landmark should be.</p><p>Some have called for the revised Silver Springs — 95 miles north of Lakeland, just east of Ocala in Marion County — it to be a purely natural park with limited human access.</p><p>Others have suggested it be an economic-development "project," complete with restaurants, a hotel and retail outlets.</p><p>For its part, the owner, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, initially laid out a plan that appeared that the springs would be just another state park.</p><p>Most of those engaged in the discussion, however, envisioned something in the middle — an environmental restoration undertaking that also can serve as an economic stimulus, maybe even the catalyst to turn the community into an ecotourism mecca of sorts. After all, Silver Springs is not just another spring, it is the world's most famous freshwater spring, with a rich-and-colorful history.</p><p>So it was encouraging to hear the DEP's Lewis Scruggs at a community forum held May 11 on the status of the Silver Springs park project talk about the agency's vision of the park as an ecotourism destination. Scruggs, assistant bureau chief for the Environmental Department's Office of Park Planning, said while the new park will highlight the springs' cultural and historic past, it will also be part of something bigger, something many believe can transform the community.</p><p>NATURE PLUS ECONOMY</p><p>Having the department on board to restore Silver Springs to its former glory, both as a natural treasure and an economic one as well, is critical to achieving the bigger picture of parking a renaissance of the springs, and its impact on Ocala and Marion County.</p><p>Marion County Commissioner Stan McClain, who has been the county's point man in negotiations with the department, said over time he has seen state park officials "expand their vision" of what Silver Springs can mean to a community — surrounded by a 500,000 acres of national forest, 50,000 acres of greenway, 11,000 acres of state forest and hundreds of miles of trails running through each.</p><p>Restoration of the springs itself must remain priority No. 1. But if that is successful, the bigger goal of making Silver Springs and its surrounding natural assets an ecotourism destination can happen as well, because who wouldn't want to swim in the cool, clear waters of the world's most spectacular freshwater spring — just for starters.</p>